4 ways to keep children motivated

Nurturing ambition in children keeps them on track with their learning. Parents can play an essential part in motivating their children; however, some children are naturally more motivated than others. Sometimes you need to help your child to nurture motivation by working out what motivates them and helping cultivate internal motivation, one of the strongest drivers of good habits and self-drive.

To find out what motivates your child, look at these top ways to keep them motivated in their learning.

1. Goals

Teaching kids to set goals is key to motivating them. Working with children on realistic goal setting can be rewarding and encouraging, as it helps them see how small steps can lead to where they visualise going. In addition, you can help pique their curiosity from a young age by demonstrating multiple uses of a particular skill and creating a step-by-step plan utilising this skill to help them work towards a goal they wish to achieve. This methodical approach allows children to create goals around these learned skills and develops motivated learners.

2. Challenge

Finding an optimal challenge for your child's learning level keeps them engaged and excited. The task needs to be slightly more complex than that which the child has already mastered, as easy tasks can leave them feeling bored. At NumberWorks'nWords, we take an individualised approach to tutoring to ensure the learning level is unique to each child. This helps cultivate your child's growth mindset, as they know their skill level is malleable. Growing intrinsic motivation also shows your children that learning and mastering a new skill is fun. Tutoring can be a natural place for encouragement, where children learn skills in a supportive environment, and that mastery can improve through practice with subjects like maths and English.

3. Celebrate

Celebrate success with your children through positive encouragement. Celebrating milestones together can be one of the most exciting parts of your child's learning and progress. It is excellent to use praise and give positive feedback and celebrate successes. But don't overdo the reward part of the process, as relying on the reward and control approach too often can hinder developing internal motivation. The trick is to use extrinsic rewards just from time to time, which are not promised beforehand as a motivation factor but given after the success to celebrate.

4. Autonomy

Autonomy helps build motivation and confidence by instilling good habits. Giving children agency and opportunities to learn and grow encourages them to take responsibility. This approach can help to cultivate your child's internal motivation by tuning into the feelings of accomplishment and the pride they feel for a job well done. Taking a democratic approach rather than an authoritarian approach to conversations at home can also build this autonomy, confidence and motivation.

Overall, you can help kindle excitement in your children about their passions and what motivates them. This positive energy from encouragement can boost their self-confidence, work proactively in all their learning, and boost their grades. At NumberWorks'nWords, we are big believers in building motivation and a passion for learning and development. Our individualised maths and English tuition help inspire young learners to become motivated to achieve their goals. If you would like to learn more about our after-school tuition, get in touch with your local centre, and book a free assessment today!